He was cited three times in the space of two years for tripping offences but Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds has declared that his wallet "will remain in my pocket" following changes to the judiciary system announced by the NRL on Thursday.
Grade one offences for careless high tackles, tripping, contrary conduct and detrimental conduct will now result in a $1,500 fine if a player is found guilty and while Reynolds has twice been suspended for tripping in recent years has no intention of transgressing again in 2017.
Reynolds was charged with a Grade One tripping offence on the Dragons' Joel Thompson last season and while he failed to miss a game due to his early guilty plea, has welcomed the change to a fines system.
"It sucked in the past but now it will be a good thing, even though I'm a cleanskin now. That's all changed," Reynolds said of his previous visits to the judiciary.
"No fines this year. My wallet will stay in the pocket.
"I think it's a great incentive because there are some nit-picking little ones that people probably should get away with but [the NRL] have to stamp their foot down sometime."
The self-proclaimed "skinny runt with a rat's tail" that won a NSW Cup competition with the Bulldogs in 2011 has polarised fans with his all-out approach to the game but believes captaining the Bulldogs at this weekend's Downer NRL Auckland Nines is a further sign of his progression as a person.
Reynolds, Sam Kasiano, David Klemmer and Michael Lichaa bring the majority of NRL experience within the Bulldogs squad to Auckland and as someone who has progressed through the grades since SG Ball under-18s with the famous club, Reynolds said the chance to captain the Bulldogs is one he will cherish forever.
"To be named captain of any Bulldogs team is a massive honour, especially for myself because I've been a local junior and I really enjoy everything the club's about," Reynolds told NRL.com.
"I'm definitely going to take it with both hands and see what I can do.
"I just want to lead. Not with my words but with my actions and that's on and off the field.
"I'm probably the oldest here at the Nines in our crew and for couple of the boys it might be their first trip and I definitely don't want to lead them astray.
"It's something that I'll always look back to and cherish and I'm just excited to get out there and be a part of it with the boys.
"As a person I feel I've definitely grown a bit and hopefully I can keep growing because that's what's life's about.
"Constantly moving forward and making changes in your life to make yourself a better person."
